Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the
Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 20:11-12 (KJV):
11 Even a child is known by
his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Proverbs 20:11-12 (AMP):
11 Even a child is known by his acts, whether or not
what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made both of them.
Thoughts for the Day:
We find that the book of wisdom has a
lot to say about the raising of children. Verse 11 tells us that
children are known by their actions, whether those actions are good
deeds or bad deeds. We all gain a reputation, whether it be
an admirable one, or one that is shameful by the things we do. All of us
fail at times and even our children will act naughty sometimes. However,
when a deed is repeated over and over again, it establishes the
character of a child (or adult). We all have known people who are
habitually tardy or who habitually lie and therefore, they are known as
being unreliable and/or a liar. It is important as parents to work with
children, teaching and training them in character development.
Teaching alone is not enough, we must also train them. That means
we are to help them reinforce good habits and overcome the bad habits.
This comes by patiently instructing and enforcing what we teach them.
One of the most unkind things a parent
can do is to tell a child they will take certain actions if the child is
disobedient and then fail to do it. The child then knows that he does
not have to mind, as there really will be no action taken on the
parent's part for their disobedience. Many times we find undisciplined
children are simply a reflection of undisciplined parents. It takes hard
work, patience and prayer to raise children that are known as good
children. The Bible instructs children to obey their parents while
telling the parents to bring their children up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:1-4:
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with
promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
We notice in the next verse of our
study in Proverbs that the Lord mentions that He made the hearing
ear and seeing eye. Notice this verse follows the one about how a child
acts. There is definitely a correlation between what a child hears and
sees, as to how he will act. There have been many studies done
lately that have proved that behavior is learned from what a child hears
and views. Children who are allowed to watch violent and evil
movies will many times attempt to do the things that they see in those
movies, while good movies inspire children to want to be like the role
models they view on the screen. It is very important that we do
not allow our children to view movies with wicked and occult themes.
Demonic influences through the media will adversely affect children and
adults, as well.
Pornography is an evil that is hurting
our society and causing it to deteriorate. It is creating
unhealthy relationships at all levels. Marriages are falling apart
because perverted sexual experiences are preferred over normal sexual
relations. People's minds are preoccupied with evil and lustful thoughts
that keep them from enjoying life. Rape, sodomy, incest,
bestiality and other evils are on the increase, destroying the lives of
many. We must protect our thoughts and our children's by guarding
what passes through the gates of the eyes and ears. Evil people are
doing everything they can to protect the right to view pornography on
the internet and elsewhere, to the detriment of our children. They demand
this right because they contend they are adults and should be allowed to
see anything they want to see. God is watching us in our private
lives and our homes. The Bible declares pornography as wrong and sinful,
and people who play with this sin will find it has a deadly sting to it
in the end. In the Psalm below, David declared that he would
set no wicked thing before his eyes.
Psalm 101:2-4:
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come
unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them
that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly
Father, I ask You to help me keep my thoughts pure and to resist any
temptation to view anything that is corrupt and vile. Lord, I also ask you
to keep my children and grandchildren safe from being exposed to all
pornographic material, as I know evil men and women are peddling these wicked
things. Lord, deliver the people who are already bound up in this snare. Forgive
them and set them free. Lord, dry up the resources behind the production of
these evil magazines, books, videos, CDs and movies. Lord, move on the
hearts of those in the courts and legislative branches of our government to pass
the laws that will do away with and prevent pornography from spreading. Cause
Your people to desire things that are good and pure and to put away things that
are evil in their homes. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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